U.S. crude-oil stockpiles fell by 6.0 million barrels to 420.7 million barrels in the week ended Aug. 15, the largest draw in more than two months and well above the 1.8-million-barrel decline analysts anticipated, Energy Information Administration data show. Inventories now sit roughly 6% below the five-year seasonal average. The weekly report also showed gasoline supplies shrinking by 2.7 million barrels, while distillate stocks rose 2.3 million barrels. Holdings at the Cushing, Oklahoma pricing hub increased 0.4 million barrels. Total products supplied, a proxy for demand, climbed 149,000 barrels a day to 21.506 million barrels a day as higher jet-fuel and distillate consumption more than offset a dip in gasoline demand. Futures extended gains after the release, with West Texas Intermediate trading around $63.81 a barrel and Brent near $66.51. Traders said the unexpectedly large draw reinforces evidence of solid summer fuel demand, though some analysts cautioned that forecasts for an OPEC+ supply build-up later in 2025 could cap further price advances.